How often have people said, it wasn't a great movie, but Meryl Streep is worth watching (I think of The Iron Lady, for example). In this one, a rock and roll singer (sort of reminded me of Bonnie Raitt) continues to ply her trade. In the past, she birthed three children, a girl and two boys, who have left her life. Her ex-husband calls her and says that the daughter is having serious trouble and it would be good for her to come to Indianapolis. She is totally broke and must use every available cent to get there and then live off her wealthy ex. He doesn't mind. But her daughter is hugely resentful of her, blaming her for her foibles. Played by Streep's actual daughter, she is a piece of work. Unfortunately, this slips into a maudlin, predictable presentation, much too contrived and simplistic. The final scenes, while a bit touching, are beyond the pale. But Streep again manages to make silk purses out of sow's ears.

I have the utmost respect for Meryl Streep as an actress. She is amazing and has deserved all the acclaim for her roles in a wide variety of exceptional movies. That being said, a few years ago she made "Mama Mia"...which proved that despite her prodigious talents, Ms. Streep cannot do everything...especially when it came to singing. Perhaps this is why she later made "Ricki and the Flash"...to prove she really COULD sing. And, while she was passable, it just convinced me that once again Meryl should NOT be singing in her films. Inexplicably...Streep just finished another musical..."Mama Mia! Here We Go Again". Please, please stop already!!

The story begins with a long song delivered by Meryl in a honkeytonk....and there was much more of this to come. If they'd just stopped with that one song, it might have been okay. They didn't. You learn that Meryl left her family to pursue her musical career. Her husband (Kevin Kline) has since remarried and they've both lived totally separate lives since. However, their daughter (played by Streep's real life daughter) is having emotional problems and he has invited her to come back to see their daughter, and, perhaps, to help. What comes after that is pretty cliched, though the film DOES have some excellent moments and might even elicit a few tears. My problem is the shameless way the film had Ricki (Streep) come and perform at her son's wedding and, apparently, that just made everything great and the film ends. Thank heaven for the magical power of Meryl's singing....not.

The bottom line is that this movie would have been excellent if there never had been any singing at all...and the singing was a distraction. Additionally, the band actually had, as lead guitarist, Rick Springfield...a guy who really CAN sing and make music....why not let him sing if you insist on having singing?! Overall, I was pretty disappointed in this one...mostly because Meryl is a mega-talent....just not when it comes to singing.

Ricki Rendazzo (Meryl Streep) plays covers with boyfriend Greg (Rick Springfield) and her band the Flash at the local band. She had left her family years ago to chase her dreams in California. She gets a call from her ex-husband Pete (Kevin Kline). Their daughter Julie (Mamie Gummer) is suicidal after getting divorced from her cheating husband. She tries to work out their absent relationships.

Meryl Streep is the greatest. Mamie Gummer working with her mom has never been better. Streep's scene with the new wife Maureen is exceptional. It takes the movie to another level. Then the movie stumbles by going back to California. It sputters as the audience tries to care about her relationship with Greg. The compelling family relationships are sidelined and it takes forever to return. It would have been a better move to get Greg out to visit the family so that there wouldn't be such a break. It's good that Streep is able to keep the movie going all the way to the end.